Man shot in face by homeowner charged with burglary

TACOMA, Wash. - A man who was shot in the face as he entered a home was charged with burglary Monday.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Christopher Rhodes, 20, with residential burglary in the June 19 home invasion burglary of a Tacoma-area home.

Linquist said the homeowner shot Rhodes as he entered the home through a broken window. The victim told police that the intruder’s torso was inside his house when he fired the shot.

Police said the victim was home alone when he heard knocking at his back door but ignored it as he was not expecting company.

After the knocking stopped, the victim heard noises from someone prying open a window, armed himself with a shotgun and called 911.

Police said Rhodes smashed in a bay window and was entering the home when the victim fired one shot, hitting Rhodes in the face.

Prosecutors said Rhodes ran to a neighboring home, bleeding from the face and arms, and pounded on the window of a garage where two men were watching television and asked the men to help him hide.

Rhodes collapsed shortly after, and medics transported him to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

Court documents said that at the time of the burglary, Rhodes had a cellphone with an application that allowed him to monitor police radio broadcasts. Police said a witness reported hearing dispatch communications coming from the phone.

Rhodes was charged and arrested on a bench warrant after he was released from the hospital.

“The defendant was caught in the act and lawfully shot,” said Lindquist. “Now, he’s going to be held accountable for the burglary. This case is another reminder that breaking into people’s homes can land you in the hospital or prison, if you aren’t killed.”